MONTAUK NEW BUILD

This beautiful cedar-sided modern home is tucked just in from the Atlantic coastline. Our clients happened to have discovered it in the midst of the heated real estate market of 2020...when homes were being bought sight unseen and bidding wars became the norm. They drove by the house, met the developer before it hit the market, and closed the deal. And, while they entered the equation at the tail end of the project, the place could not have more charm or be more perfect for this upbeat, casual family. The biggest challenge? To fill it with furnishings and art that weren’t too serious or beach house cliche, but worked together to make this a completely awesome retreat.

The Solution

The clients engaged Jenny Madden Design for the furnishings, and Jenny recommended bringing us in for the art. We immediately focused on the spouse’s very disparate art tastes to figure out common ground and absolute nos.  We married that with some of the selections the JMD team brought in - wallpaper with sunbathers on it, wicker lounge chairs, and playful curves in consoles, benches, and dressers. The desired vibe was clear, and we highlighted it through a selection of artists that worked in various media, integrated organic forms, and shared that playful/cool perspective; a textured Rachel Mica Weiss grounds the living room and adds a pop of color with its rich blue-yellow gradient. The fibers of the piece pull nicely over its support, leaving negative space and an airy appeal appropriate for this indoor/outdoor setup.  

In the primary bedroom, William Betts’ modern pointillist painting showcases a family in the water. The details on this piece are fantastic - it’s been created using a grid system with diverse colors strategically layered that can only be fully appreciated by a close-up inspection. Across the room, Canadian painter Luce Meunier’s foggy bands of color inject more movement into the room. The bathroom too was not neglected; we sourced an affordable Petros Koublis wave photograph with a notably high horizon line - a perfect draw to the beach -  printing the piece on canvas rather than paper for durability in the humidity. 

Upstairs and in the powder room, we placed two Cody Hudsons, an artist the couple was drawn to immediately after our initial presentation. Hudson’s hallmark graphic style that he has developed through large-scale murals to commercial brand collaborations for sneakers, towels, hand creams, and sandwich packs, just feels right in this surfer’s getaway. 

Ultimately the home came together in time for the family’s 2021 summer break. With a cohesive array of furnishings and art that so accurately represents what they love, they’re able to welcome guests, enjoy the pool, and disconnect from the world.